Agitator



Sept. 8, 1936. T, A VALLEY 2,053,401

. AGITATOR Filed Aug. 9, 1955 Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AGITATOR Application August 9, 1935, Serial No. 35,537

1 Claim. (Cl. 259-131) This invention relates to improvements in agitators, mixers, heaters, and the like, and, more especially, to such a device more particularly adapted for stirring, mixing, agitating or beating food mixtures, liquids, doughs, pasty and granular substances. I

Among the features of my invention is the provision of new and improved agitator or beater elements. In devices of the character referred to, it has been customary to provide two parallel adjacent shafts carrying beater elements at their ends. It has been customary heretofore to employ for such beater elements single or double rings on the ends of the shafts. One of the features of my invention is the provision of beater elements of a different shape. In general, my beater elements may be described as being pearshaped or elongated loops, each having one end larger than the other. The elements are reversed with respect to each other. That is, one has the large end on top and the other on thebottom. I have found that with beater elements of this type, a greatly improvedagitating or beater action is obtained.

I find that the two shafts may be rotated in either the same direction or in opposite directions, although at present I prefer to rotate them in the same direction. The two shafts must be close enough together so that the pear-shaped beater loops at the ends will give adequate mixing action and yet not strike. Ordinarily, I prefer to place them close enough together so that the clearance at the closest points will be about A,". When the loops are so placed, it will be seen that the vertical projections of the paths of their peripheries will overlap.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

,40 In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a view in per- 45 spective of the agitator or beater elements; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing rotation of the elements in opposite directions.

As shown in the drawing, the device includes 50 a suitable base l0 also serving as a support for a bowl (not shown) adapted to contain the substance to be agitated or mixed.. Rising from the base I0 is a post ll having an arm l2 hinged at l3 and carrying the casing l4 containing a standard motor and driving mechanism (not shown). The details of the motor and the means for driving the shaft form no part of the present invention and need not be shown in detail. It will suffice to say that the apparatus includestwo de- 5 pending parallel adjacent shafts I5, [5 with means for suitably driving or rotating the same. In one embodiment of the invention, the shafts are rotated in the same direction and in the other, in opposite directions. The driving shafts I5, I5 10 carry beater shafts l6, 16, each having attached to its lower end an agitator or beater element I! in the form of a pear-shaped loop. As here shown, the loop is made of a fiat strip or ribbon of metal.

In other words, each loop is elongated and one 15 end is larger or wider than the other. The loops are similar but reversed with respect to each other. That is, one has its larger end on top and the other, its larger end at the bottom.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the two shafts l6,v I 6 20 are rotated in the same direction. Special reference to Fig. 3 will show that with such rotation, I the clearance between the two loops at the closest point will be quite close from top to bottom. This gives a very efficient agitating or beating action. 25

Eventhough I prefer to rotate the elements in the same direction, I have found that a very the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claimall novelty inherent in the invention 40 as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art. What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character described, including: two parallel adjacent shafts in stationary bearings similar reversed cooperating elongated loops carried by adjacent ends of said shafts, each loop having one end larger than the other, said loops being placed close enough together so that the vertical projections of the paths of their peripheries will overlap; and means for rotating said shafts in said bearings.

TENNIS J. LA VALLEY. 

